Apparatus for the treatment of textile fibers and fabrics

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for treatment of textile fibers and fabrics in a confined zone formed by an even number of at least two interengaging pairs of parallel rolls which cooperate with two end plates in sealing contact with the ends of the interengaging pairs of rolls, and means connecting the confined zone with at least a source of reduced pressure and use of such apparatus in apparatus means for crimping protein fibers comprising in combination means for impregnating the fibers with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol; means for storing the impregnated fibers to allow penetration of the impregnating solution; means for drafting the fibers and means for setting and drying the fibers.

United States Patent 1191 Umehara et al.

[451 Sept. 30, 1975 APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TEXTILE FIBERS AND FABRICS [75] Inventors: Ryo Umehara: Fujio Bekku, both of lchinomiya, Japan [73] Assignee: I.W.S. Nominee Company Limited, London. England 221 Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 435,013

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 253.797. May 16.

1972. Pat. No. 3,849,848.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 26. 1973 Japan 48-10395 [521 US. Cl. 68/20; 28/1.2; 28/72.!7; 28/75 WT; 68/5 D; 68/191; 68/22 B [51] Int. Cl. DOIH 5/18 [58] Field of Search 68/5 D. 5 E, 19.1. 20, 68/22 B; 8/1491; 28/76 R; 19/66 [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.057.282 10/1962 Luboshez 68/22 B Primary Exanliner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant E.\-al niner.lames A. Niegowski Attorney. Agent. 0" Firm-Harold L. Stowell [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for treatment of textile fibers and fabrics in a confined zone formed by an even number of at least two interengaging pairs of parallel rolls which cooperate with two end plates in sealing contact with the ends of the interengaging pairs of rolls. and means connecting the confined zone with at least a source of reduced pressure and use of such apparatus in apparatus means for crimping protein fibers comprising in combination means for impregnating the fibers with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol; means for storing the impregnated fibers to allow penetration of the impregnating solution; means for drafting the fibers and means for setting and drying the fibers.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures win I Sheet 1 of 3 3,908,410

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 0f3 3,908,410

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TEXTILE FIBERS AND FABRICS This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 253,797 filed May 16, 1972 now Pat. No. 3,849,848.

Application Ser. No. 253,797 relates to a method and apparatus for drafting non-twisted protein fibers to crimp them spontaneously, and this applicationcomprises in part the apparatusdivided therefrom.

As set forth in said application, keratin fibers can be crimped in the form of top or carded sliver by a stuffer box method, in the form of top or yarn by the twistdraft-set-untwist method and in the form of yarn by the draft-release method. A

In fibers crimped by the stuffer box method the curvature at certain positions in the crimped fibers is exceedingly sharp,.-and strain is concentrated in these sharply curved portions. As the fibers are steam set in such a configuration, the tensile strength of the fibers is greatly reduced. Steamsetting produces only a temporary set and when permanent set is required, chemical setting with inorganic or organic reducing agents is employed. Permanent setting further'reduces the tensile strength and this causes problems in subsequent processing or in the quality of the final product.

In the twist-draft-set-untwist method and the draftrelease method, the fibers are drafted mechanically and on release become twisted and crimped. .However, twisting of fibers during the process inhibits the diffusion of aqueous solutions, water-vapor diffusion and heat transmission. In consequence, only the surface of the fiber bundle is wetted while the inside is hardly damp, and during drafting the surface layer of fibers is readily drafted while the inside. layers are less efficiently drafted, so that uneven drafting inevitably results.

As highly drafted fibers are not the stable a-type ker atin fibers of natural wool, the fibers are severely damaged. When subjected to setting withboiling water, steam or chemical agents for permanently setting the crimp, the fibers are further damaged, and the tensile strength is further reduced. In methods involving twisting the fibers as described above, it becomes very difficult to dry them and it is uneconomical to untwist them.

One aspect of the present'invention relates to apparatus for crimping protein fibers by applying to the fibers an aqueous solution of an alcohol, drafting the fibers, and subsequently relaxingthe fibers.

It also has been found that the difficulties experiof the structures shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of means for varying the contact pressure of the roll system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one form of suction and discharge system for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of apparatus particularly suited for impregnating or wetting fibers in or by an impregnating liquid;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows apparatus for carrying out a process of the invention which incorporates the apparatus shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is 'a diagrammatic end view of a further modified form of the present invention.

A conventionally and widely employed technique for squeezing liquids from textile fabrics and fibers consists of mangle arrangements of 2, 3 or more rolls. With such a system of mangle rolls continuous operations are practicable anda merit thereof consists in the simplicity in the plural roll structure. However, because of its low squeezing effect, it is necessary to increase the nip pressure between the rolls in order to improve the operational efficiency of such a system. Such increase in the nip pressure applies excessive loads on the processing materials often causing damage and deformation of easily deformable materials such as jerseys, knitted fabrics and wool woven fabrics.

Such mangle roll systems have also' been employed in combination with suction and some enhancement of fabric dehydration has been obtained thereby.

Centrifugal-dehydration of fabrics has also been commercially employed. However, in the case of known centrifugal-type fabric dehydrators, the squeezing operation is performed in the batch and no continuous process is known to be available. In addition, centrifugal-type squeezing systems are inevitably accompanied with such problems as large power requirements of high speed rotary driers, etc.

It is also known to form an air tight chamber of mutually contacting rotary rolls and seal plates for covering the sides of a space formed by the rolls. The internal pressure of the sealed chamber is raised up to from 3 through 5 kg/cm by supplying compressed air to the space, and the fabric is advanced between the rolls thereby hollowin'g the parts of the rolls contacting the fabric. The compressed air within the space formed by the rolls is rapidly ejected through the hollowed or bowed portions of the rollsand blows liquid contained in the fabric therefrom.

In the case of such roll-jet type dehydration systems, the squeezing effect is higher than in the mangle type systems due tothe effective utilization of the dehydration effect of the jet flow, and relativelylow nipping pressure can be employed. Further, the operation can be carried out in continuous fashion. However, due to the fact that the operation is carried out under highpressure conditions, the boiling point of the liquid to be removed is raised resulting in lower evaporation of the liquid.

In addition, because the sealed chamber is highly pressured, the rolls confining the sealed chamber are subjected to forces in the outward direction and therefore, in order to maintain the sealed condition of the chamber, it is necessary to provide a supporting and sealing mechanism which is capable of maintaining the rolls in tight mutual pressure contact while overcoming the forces in the outward direction.

It has been found that improved continuous fabric or fiber dehydration can be effectively carried out in a confined zone formed by an even number of at least two interengaging pairs of parallel rolls which cooperate with two end plates in sealing contact with the ends of the interengaging pairs of rolls, and means connecting the confined zone with at least a source of reduced pressure.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. The improved apparatus for the treatment of textile fibers and fabrics is generally designated and comprises three pairs of rolls designated 12a and 12b. 14a and 14b and 16a and 16b. The rolls are mounted on parallel axes such that the peripheral surfaces of each of the rolls are in contact with adjacent rolls, that is roll 12a is in contact with roll 14a and 12b, roll 16a is in contact with roll 14a and 16b and roll 14b is in contact with roll 12b and 16b. With the rolls rotated in the direction of the directional arrow A by, for example, a motor generally designated 18 connected to the shaft 20 of roll 16a, it will be noted that the upper pair of rolls rotate to form an input nip 22 and rolls 12a and 12b rotate to form an output nip 24. Each of the rolls 12a and b, 14a and b and 16a and b is provided with a resilient outer surface 26 which assists in maintaining tight line contact between the rolls and assists in maintaining the zone 28 at a reduced pressure as to be more fully described hereinafter. Further, each of the rolls has a raised rim 29 which bears against and is sealed by a pair of pressure plates 32 supported by apparatus side plates 30. The plates 32 are coated on their bearing surfaces with a low friction material such as polytetrafluoro ethylene. One of the plates 32 is provided with plural openings designated 34, 36 and 38 which in turn have connected thereto conduits 40, 42 and 44 which are connected to control means to be described in reference to FIG. 4 of the drawings for maintaining a reduced pressure atmosphere within the compartment or chamber 28, for supplying heat thereto and for withdrawing liquid therefrom. The assembly also includes a pair of rolls 46 and 48 mounted adjacent rolls 12a and 16a respectively. These rolls together with rolls 12a, 14a and 160 have trained thereabout an endless mesh belt or band 50 so that the belt or band 50 travels inwardly through the nip 22, outwardly from the nip 24, about roll 46 and the external surface of roll 12a, the internal surface of roll 14a and the external surface of roll 16a. The belt or band being driven by its contact with roll 12a, 14a and 16a. A similar belt or band 52 is trained about a portion of the external surface of roll 16b, passes through the chamber 28, the nip 24, about the external surface of roll 12b thence about an idler roll 54. The pair of belts or bands 50 and 52 carry the fabric or fibers F through the nips 22 and 24 and the treating chamber 28. I

The combination of contacting rolls and sealing side members together with the vacuum inlet port 34 and its pipe are such that the pressure in the sealed chamber may be maintained at an absolute pressure from 760 to about mm of mercury and the heating means, for example, for steam flowing through conduit 42 is such that the temperature is maintained in a range of from about 20 through about 100C. as to be more fully described hereinafter.

The shafts of the rolls of the assembly may be mounted in fixed bearings to the side plates 30 or preferably certain of the rolls may be supported by movable blocks so that the pressure at the roll nips may be adjusted and to maintain the seal for the dehydration chamber.

One example of mechanism for supporting and adjusting the pressing force of the plural rolls of the assembly is shown in FIG. 3. Mounted outside of the casing or side walls 30 are a pair of stationary blocks 60 and 62, one for each side of assembly, which stationary blocks are supported from the machines frame or base 64. The pair of stationary blocks 60 rotatably support the extended ends of the shafts of squeeze rolls 12a and The assembly also includes four sets of horizontally positioned rods 66, 68, and 72 which are supported in vertically spaced levels by the stationary blocks 60 while passing longitudinally therethrough. Of the four sets of horizontal rods, the uppermost rod set 66 is supported at its left side, as viewed in FIG. 3, by the stationary block 60 and at its other or right hand side by the other stationary block 62. The lowermost rod set 62 is similarly arranged and thus supported by stationary blocks 60 and 62. The second and third rod sets 68 and 70 of the assembly are supported at their right side ends by the stationary block 62 and at their left side ends after passing through bores in stationary blocks 60 by a common plate member 74.

Spaced to the right of each of the stationary blocks 60 is an immovable block 76 through which the four rod sets 66, 68, 70 and 72 pass. One of the immovable blocks 76 on one side of the assembly is provided with three openings for the passage of conduits 40, 42 and 44. The immovable blocks 76 on the opposite side of the machine-is not provided with such bores.

To the right of each of the immovable blocks 76 is mounted a movable block 78 slidable on the horizontal rod sets 66 and 68. The pair of immovable blocks 78 support opposite ends of the shaft carrying the squeeze roll 16b. Similarly, a pair of movable blocks 82 slidably mounted on shafts 70 and 72 carry the outboard ends of the shaft of squeeze roll 12b while a pair of slidably mounted blocks 80, carried by the respective rod pairs 68 and 70, support the outboard ends of the shaft of squeeze roll 14b. Further, as more clearly shown in FIG. 3, each of the horizontal shaft sets 66, 68, 70 and 72 are provided with cooperating grooves generally designated 84 which grooves slidably receive press plates 86 which are engaged at one end by the extended ends of threaded shafts 88 which pass through the fixed block 62 and receive externally thereof adjusting handles 90. Between the right hand faces of the slide blocks 78, 80 and 82 and their respective press plates 86 are mounted helical springs 92. The force of the springs tending to press their respective rolls into mutual contacting engagement is regulated by compression of springs 92 via the adjusting handles 90.

Similarly, roll 14a has the outboard ends of its shaft mounted in slide block sets 94 which slide blocks are mounted on the ends of horizontal shafts 68 and 70. Between the slide blocks 94 and the plate 74 the horizontal shafts 68 and 70 are provided with longitudinal grooves 84 within which press plate 86' is adapted to move. Helical spring 92' acts between the slide block 94 and press plate 86' and the tension in the spring is regulated via threaded rod 88' having a control handle or wheel 90' connected thereto on the opposite side of plate 74.

From the foregoing description it will be seen by those skilled in the art that the compressive force exerted by the mutually engageable rolls is readily controllable.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4 of the invention which illustrates one embodiment of the suction and dehydration system of the invention, the suction opening 34 is connected to a vacuum pump 100 by the suction tube or conduit 40 via valve 102. The liquid discharge opening 38 is connected to tanks 106 and 108 by liquid discharge tube or conduit 44 via valves 110, l 12, and 114. The tanks 106 and 108 are also in communication with each other via conduit 116 and valve 118. Further, the tank 108 is connected to the vacuum pump 100 via conduit 120 and valve 122. Further, each tank 106 and 108 is vented to atmosphere and to drain via valves 124 and 126, 128 and 130 respectively.

In operation of the device with the rolls rotating in the direction of the directional arrows and a fabric or fibers to be dried passing through the chamber 28 in the direction of the directional arrows shown in FIG. 2 steam is admitted to the chamber 28 via conduit 42 from a source not shown and suction is drawn on the chamber via suction conduit 40, valve 102 and pump 100. Thereafter, the discharge of the liquid from the chamber 28 is brought about by opening valves 122,

i 118, 112 and 110 while valves 124, 126,128, 130 and 114 are closed. When the liquid collecting tank 106 is filled valve 112 is closed together with valve 118 while valve 114 is opened so that the withdrawn liquid is directed to tank 108. Thereafter, valves 124 and 126 are opened permitting the fluid collected in tank 126 to drain therefrom. This cycle is repeated as long as necessary.

The advantages of the present invention are illustrated in the following Table I which illustrates the comparison of the squeezing effect of apparatus constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 operating at dehydration chamber temperatures of C. and 70C. with a load applied on the rolls of 0.4 tons per meter width of the rolls. The dehydration figures designate percent by weight of the liquid still contained in the fabric structure after the squeezing and dehydration operation with respect to the weight of the fabric structure in a dry state.

TABLE I Apparatus of the Present Invention Load applied on rolls ton/m. width: 0.4

As hereinbefore set forth, apparatus of the nature of that shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 is also useful in applying liquids to fabrics and fibers and as set forth in our co-pending application Ser. No. 253,797 directed to a method of crimping protein fibers by drafting the untwisted fibers are first treated with an aqueous solution of an alcohol. The untwisted fibers include sheeps wool, mohair, alpaca, vicuna, llama, cashmere, and camel hair, and may be used in the form of carded sliver, tops and rovings of such fibers, which are nontwisted and arranged uniformly parallel along the fiber axis.

In the preferred practice of this aspect of the invention, the fibers are well impregnated in an acidcontaining or alkali-containing aqueous solution of an alcohol, which generally contains a high concentration of the alcohol, in order to render them draftable more readily and with a reduced energy. Keratin fibers are characterized by a 30% index; that is to say that when sheeps wool is drafted by 30% and then released, it recovers to the original state without any internal strain. The treated fiber when adequately dried shown the same tensile strength properties as untreated sheeps wool fibers. While the performance of the invention does not depend upon any theory as to its mode of operation, this phenomenon is understood to be due to the opening by water of the hydrogen bonds stabilizing the polypeptide chain, which can be reversed on drying. Additionally there are other reversible bonds having the property of stabilizing the polypeptide chain, such as salt bonds and hydrophobic bonds. The former bond is opened by adding acid or alkali and the latter bond is opened by an alcohol. Thus the drafting properties of sheeps wool and other keratin fibers can be further increased.

The impregnating media consisting of an acidcontaining .or alkali-containing aqueous solution of an alcohol should be removed in the subsequent drying process. If it is not removed substantially completely in the drying process, it greatly reduces the strength of the fibers. The acids, alkalis and alcohols which are preferred are those having a similar volatility to water and preferably not having a boiling point higher than about C. For the purposes of this invention, formic acid (b.p. 100.5C.) and acetic acid (b.p. 118C.) are the most preferred acids, ammonia (b.p. 33.35C.) the preferred alkali, and methanol (b.p. 64.7C.), ethanol (b.p. 78.3C.), n-propanol (b.p. 97.2C.), iso-propanol (b.p. 82.5C.), nbutanol (b.p. 1l7.7C.) and isobutanol (b.p. 108C.) are the preferable alcohols, especially n-propaiiol and iso-propanol. The acid or alkali is added in such an amount as to make the pH of the aqueous solution strongly acidic or strongly alkaline. The concentration of the alcohol in water is normally at least 10% by volume and is preferably in the range 1050% by volume.

Keratin fibers themselves are hydrophobic and if they are impregnated unevenly, the subsequent treatment is adversely affected. As the fibers should be impregnated evenly and rapidly it is desirable to replace the air surrounding the fibers quickly and completely by the im- The fibers treated in accordance with the invention do not have any twist and absorb the liquid much better than twisted fibers. Subsequent drying can be quickly performed, and untwisting is not required. Thus, processing becomes simplified. It is recommended to add simultaneously a small amount of thioglycollic acid, monoethanolamine sulphite, monoethanolamine bisulphite or thiourea dioxide as a setting agent and formaldehyde (formalin, b.p. 96C.) as a crosslinking agent for crimp waves produced in a subsequent stage.

The fibers can be drafted by applying tension at two or more points along the advancing bundle of fibers, for example by using a pair of cooperating nip rollers one of which is driven faster than the other. When the fibers are drafted, crimped by removing tension, set without tension, and then dried, the number of crimps produced depends on the length of fiber bundle grasped between the points at which the drafting forces are applied (grasped length) and the amount of drafting of the fibers. When drafting with a grasped length shorter than the length of the individual fibers, the tension on the fibers increases and when the grasped length is longer than the individual fibers, the amount of fiber slippage increases. When a high tension is applied, fine crimp waves are produced, and when the amount of fiber slippage is greater, so that a lesser tension is applied, large crimp waves are produced. Consequently, for obtaining optimum crimp waves, it is preferable to extend the fibers during drafting by l-30%, and to apply drafting forces to the fibers at at least two points spaced apart by about the average fiber length.

When fibers are drafted and temporarily set under tension, and when after spinning the temporary set is removed to produce crimp, it is not recommended to draft highly. When highly drafted fibers are relaxed in the form of yarn, stress concentrates at points where the yarn twist is irregular and produces local hardness in the yarn. In such a case, therefore, it is preferable for the grasped length to equal the average fiber length and to draft moderately, i.e. by 20%.

The keratin fibers thus drafted are then set. When they are set without any applied tension, stress release rather than dimensional change is produced, but when they are set under tension, a dimensional change and not a stress release is produced. The results are opposite to each other and the setting conditions can be selected to produce the desired result.

When setting without tension (direct crimping method), fibers highly drafted by -30% as described above are released from tension to produce crimp waves, which can be set by steaming or boiling water, followed by drying to evaporate completely the previously absorbed liquid. When adding a setting agent, for example formaldehyde, linkages are introduced into the polypeptides to stabilize the molecular chains, and thus the crimp waves are fixed and set.

When being set under tension, (indirect crimping method) keratin fibers drafted moderately, i.e. by 5-20% as described above, can be steamed and dried under tension to evaporate the impregnating liquid and are set temporarily in the extended state. They can then be spun into yarn in a conventional manner and the fibers are relaxed when in the form of spun yarns or textile material made therefrom: that is, crimps are produced by treatment with steam, hot water or an impregnating liquid as described above. On drying to evaporate water of an impregnating solution the molecular chains again become stabilized, and there are obtained bulky yarns or textiles.

In the wool industry, fibers are usually allowed to stand for a long time for top ageing, and this represents a problem in the field. In the indirect crimping method, the period required for top ageing can be greatly shortened to produce end products having an attractive handle. If it is only desired to speed up top ageing the amount of drafting should be selected to be just enough to remove the natural crimp waves of the fibers, preferably less than about 10%. In this method, the drawing process can be performed quickly and continuously and the method is very advantageous.

Apparatus suitable for carrying out the method described above, comprises means for impregnating the fibers with an aqueous solution of an alcohol, preferably containing at least 10% by volume of the alcohol, means for storing the impregnated fibers to allow penetration of the solution, means for drafting the fibers and means for setting and drying the fibers. The means for impregnating the fibers will be described in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 and the drafting means can comprise at least two pairs of nip rolls, at least the second pair being driven at a surface speed fster than the first pair. If there are three pairs of nip rolls, the third pair can be driven at the same surface speed as the second pair, whereby drafting forces imposed on the fibers between the first and second pair of rolls, are retained between the second and third pair or, alternatively, the third pair can be driven at a lower surface speed whereby the drafting forces are released and crimps form in the fibers. The apparatus can further comprise a crimping chamber, a drying chamber provided with means for forwarding the fibers, for example a pair of belts which in one position can cooperate and maintain the drafting forces on the fibers, and a cooling device.

Referring to FIG. 5, the vacuum padder 200 is composed of rolls 201 to 206 arranged to form a hexagonal section. Two of the rolls 202 and 205 are smaller than the others as in the previous form of the invention. At either end of the six assembled rolls pressure plates 207 are attached to form a closed space 209 on the inside.

Small rolls 210, 211, 212 and 213 are arranged in pairs above and below the main roll assembly. Endless mesh belts 214 and 215 span round the rolls 201, 202 and 203 and the small rolls 210 and 212 on the left hand side and around the rolls 204, 205 and 206 and the small rolls 211 and 213 in the right hand side of the drawing respectively. The belts introduce keratin fibers W to be processed and prevent them from winding into the rolls.

The rolls 201-206 and the small rolls 210-213 are journalled in bearings, not shown, carried by end plates or end frames 208 which in turn are supported by base 208'. The rolls may have adjustable support means as described in reference to FIG. 3 of the drawing. Further, the end frames 208 support the pair of press plates 207.

A liquid-supplying and discharging device and an exhaustion device are arranged outside the rolls. A tank 216 of an impregnating liquid is connected with a closed tank 219 by way of a control cock 217 and a pipe 218. A flexible pipe 220 and a flexible pipe 221 are disposed between the pipe 218 and the lower part of the closed space 209 and between the closed tank 219 and the upper part of the closed space, respectively. To the root of the pipe-22l, an exhaustion pipe 222 is attached, and is connected with a vacuum pump. A cock 223 is disposed under the closed tank 219.

In operation, an impregnating liquid isintroduced into the tank 216, at which time the cocks 217 and 223 are shut. Then the cock 217 is opened to introduce the liquid through the pipes 218 and 220 into the lower part of the closed space 209 to fill it, as shown at 224. The liquid is also introduced to the closed tank 219. The air is exhausted from the pipe 222 to reduce the pressure in the closed space 209, which becomes saturated with vapor of the liquid. The liquid is an acidor alkali-containing aqueous solution containing l50% by volume alcohol; its pH .is adjusted to 1.0-4.0 or 9.0-1 1.0, and 05-50% formalin and thioglycollic acid, monoethanolamine sulphite or bisulphite, or thiourea dioxide may be added.

Non-twisted keratin fibers W are introduced from the upper side into the closed space 209 by the two endless mesh belts 214 and 215, and pass downwardly through the impregnating liquid 224 retained in the nip between rolls 201 and 206. The closed space 209 is kept under reduced pressure (about 100-760 mm Hg) by the pressure-reducing means described above. In the space above the liquid the air in the interstices between the fibers is quickly replaced by the vapor saturated with the impregnating liquid and then the fiber is padded in the liquid. By this means the keratin fibers can be quickly and uniformly wetted. The fibers are passed between the rolls 201 and 206 to be squeezed to 50l00% wet pick up.

In the apparatus of FIG. 6, a U-type duct storage chamber B is positioned under the vacuum padder 200, and there are further provided a drafting chamber C, a steaming chamber D, a drying chamber E and a cooler F. The drafting chamber, the steaming chamber and the drying chamber form a single assembly packed in a closed unit 226, divided by walls 225 and 225'. The keratin fibers W which have been passed through the padder 200 to improve their drafting properties are passed through the storage duct B and the chambers C, D and E and finally pass over theh cooler F.

The inlet arm of the U-type storage duct B is positioned under the padder, and the outlet arm is under the drafting chamber C. In the horizontal part of the duct B, two rolls 227 and 228 are provided and an endless mesh belt 229 spans them. The outer wall 230 of the duct is double, and the inside of the double wall is maintained at 25 "C. by passing cooling water through pipes 231 and 232 and is closed tightly from the ambient air. I

In the drafting chamber C, the fiber bundle W passes upwardly over forwarding rolls 233, 234 and 235, which control the applied loading tension, and then passes over rollers 236 and 237 which are disposed horizontally. Three cooperating pairs of grip rolls 238, 239 and 240 are arranged horizontally for drafting the fibers and their distance apart and the surface speed rate can be adjusted to any suitable value.

In the subsequent steaming chamber D, an endless mesh belt 244 passes over rolls 241, 242 and 243 so as to forward the fibers W at the same level as that in the drafting chamber. Above the rolls, a little apart from them, an endless mesh belt 248 similarly passes over rolls 245, 246 and 247 and the distance of the assembly from the lower roll is adjustable. In carrying out direct crimping, the latter belt and the rolls are positioned as shown by solid lines, and for indirectcrimping they are lowered to the position shown by broken lines 250 so as to maintain the tension on the fibers, and the fibers are given tension by both endless belts 244 and 248. A plurality of small rolls are provided over which the belts 244 and 248 pass so as to be tensioned satisfactorily. A steam jet is directed against the fibers passing over the belt 244 by means of a pipe 250 provided with many jet holes disposed adjacent to the spaces between the rolls 241, 242 and 243. A pipe 251 is additionally positioned under the chamber through which steam can be introduced from an external source to keep the temperature in the chamber D in the range 80-125C.

The subsequent drying chamber E is similar to the setting chamber D. In the drawing, the parts similar to those in the chamber D are shown by the same numerals with an added prime. The steam jet pipe 250 is omitted. The chamber is kept at a temperature in the range of 80-110C.

The chambers are divided by walls 225, 225 and 226, and enclosed by the outer wall. The fibers are passed through thechambers by way of holes provided in the walls 225, 225 and 226. In the setting chamber D and the drying chamber E, holes 252 and 253 communicating with a conventional solvent-removal device are provided in the upper parts, and ventilation holes 254, 255 and 256 and 257 are provided in the bottom of the drafting chamber, the steaming chamber and the drying chamber and the steaming chamber. The drying chamber E may,'however, comprise a drying unit as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 hereof.

A cooler F having a funnel-like section is positioned after the drying chamber E. It is provided with an endless belt 260 passing over rolls 258 and 259, and the fibers W passing over the belt 260 are cooled by air drawn through the belt by a suction pipe 261, and are then introduced into a can by a pair of forwarding rolls 262. conventional In the indirect crimping method the treated fibers are further processed by conventional methods and pass to spinning apparatus and dyeing and finishing apparatus, and can optionally be knitted into a fabric using a conventional knitting machine. As a device for stress releasing the fibers in yarn form there may be used a conventional hank washing machine, hank dyeing machine or a steam box. For knitted fabrics a conventinoal paddle dyeing machine, 'a I-Iofmann press or a winch dyeing machine can be used.

Keratin fibers can be impregnated rapidly and uniformly with an impregnating liquid in the vacuum padder 200 illustrated in FIG. 5 and then pass to the U-type storage duct B in FIG. 6, in which they are allowed to stand for 5-10 minutes to allow penetration of the liquid into the fibers.

The fibers are passed to the drafting chamber C by way of the tension adjusting rolls 233, 234 and 235, and are forwarded to the pair of grip rolls 238 and 239. The spacing of the grip rolls is adjusted, depending on the average length of fibers to be treated, and the rate of surface speed of the pair of grip rolls 239 is controlled to be 1.0-1.3 times as fast as that of the pair of rolls 238, so as to draft the fibers. The rate and the amount of drafting depend on the treating method to be employed later, as described previously. In the direct crimping method, the surface speed of the rolls 240 is adjusted to be the same as that of the rolls 238 so that the fibers are overfed by the rolls 239 and becffle crimped. The fibers are then forwarded to the steaming chamber D and remain for 30-60 seconds under no applied tension. A steam jet is directed from the pipe 250 against the fibers through the mesh belt 244 to evaporate the impregnating liquid and set the fibers at 80l25C. The evaporated impregnating liquid is discharged out of the exhaust hole 252 to a collector and there collected for re-use. The fibers are then introduced into the drying chamber, wherein they are dried under no applied tension for 30-60 seconds at 80-l 10C. to evaporate completely the remaining volatile impregnating liquid. Then, the fibers are forwarded to the cooler F to be cooled.

1n the indirect crimping method, the endless mesh belts 248 and 248 positioned above the rolls in the steaming set chamber D and the drying chamber E are both lowered to cooperate with the lower endless belts 244 and 244, so as to maintain drafting forces on the fibers in the drafting chamber. The fibers are drafted with a small amount of drafting, usually 20% but more especially less than by adjusting each pair of rolls and the fibers remain under tension while passing through the steaming chamber D and the drying chamber E. The fibers passing through between the endless belts 244 and 248 are contacted with steam from steam jets 250 in the steam setting chamber D for 30-60 seconds, to evaporate the volatile impregnating liquid and temporarily set the fibers at 80125C. Then they are dried in the drying chamber E at 801 10C. for 30-60 seconds, also under tension, to complete the evaporation of the volatile liquid and this is followed by cooling by the cooler F.

The fibers can subsequently be sent to a gill and then spun into yarns on a conventional spinning machine. Yarns or textile fabrics produced from the yarns can be treated in dyeing and finishing apparatus using seam or boiling water as a medium, for 30-60 seconds in the case of yarns and for l020 minutes in the case of textile fabrics. Then, they can be dried and cooled to produce crimps and bulked spun yarns or textiles obtained having a good handle. If necessary they may be treated with the impregnating liquid described above after the above-described treatment.

The invention is further illustrated by the following Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 50% by volume 47% by volume 3% by volume water n-propanol formaldehyde solution (40%) The top was then squeezed to 84% wet pick-up by the vacuum padder and allowed to stand for 5 minutes at room temperature. It was drafted to 30% extension at room temperature using a grip roll spacing of 76 mm, and the tension was released at room temperature to produce crimp waves. The crimped top was then set by steam at 2 kg/cm pressure, while maintaining an ambient temperature of 120C., for 30 seconds without applied tension and dried with an indirect heater at 105C. for 60 seconds Without applied tension. The crimped fibers exhibited 7 crimps/4 cm as shown in FIG. 3. The top treated by the above crimping method was wound round a glass bar and exposed to boiling water for 10 minutes, but crimp waves still remained.

EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3 The same treatment as described in Example 1 was employed, except that the impregnating solution composition was as follows:

water 50% by volume n-propanol 45% by volume 86% formic acid 5% by volume pH 2.5

There were obtained 8 crimps/4 cm fiber. The crimped top was treated in boiling water for 10 minutes, and crimp waves of longer frequency, namely 4 crimps/4 cm fiber, were obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 Australian merino 50s wool top of 20 g/m, 34.77 mean fiber length, 199.69 mm and oil content 0.60 was immersed in a solution having the following composition, squeezed to 80% pick-up with a mangle and allowed to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes:

50% by volume 47% by volume 3% by volume water n-propanol formaldehyde After the impregnated top had been allowed to stand, it was drafted to an extension of 30% with grip roll spacing of about 120 mm, which equalled the mean fiber-length, at room temperature. The drafted top was then quickly released from drafting to produce crimp waves and was steamed with 2 kg/cm steam, in a chamber maintained by an indirect heater at 120C., for 30 seconds without applied tension to set the fibers, and was then dried at 105C. for seconds without applied tension. There were obtained 7 crimps/6 cm fiber. The crimped top was wound round a glass bar and exposed to boiling water for 10 minutes, but the crimp waves were not eliminated.

EXAMPLE 5 Australian merino s top of 20 g/m mean fiber length 75.00 mm 21.1411. and oil content 0.26, and having received an anti-shrinking treatment with 4.5% on the fiber weight of sodium dichloroisocyanate, was immersed in a solution of the following composition, squeezed to pick-up with a pad mangle and allowed to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes:

water i 50% by volume n-propanol 47% by volume 86% formic acid 3% by volume pH 2.5

After being allowedto stand, the top was drafted to 20% extension with'a grip roll spacing of 75 mm (the mean fiber length) and then relaxed quickly from draft ing at room temperature to produce crimp waves. The crimp top was steamed at 3 kg/cm pressure for 30 sec onds and at a temperature of 125C, maintained by an indirect heater, without applied tension and dried at 105C. for 60 seconds without applied tension. There were obtained 8 crimps/4 cm fiber. The crimped top was treated with boiling water for 10 minutes without tension, and crimp waves were not removed by this treatment.

EXAMPLE 6 Australian merino 64s top of 20 g/m, mean fiber length 75.84 mm 21.22 mean fiber diameter and oil content 0.68 was immersed in a solution of the following composition, squeezed with a mangle to 84% wet pick-up and allowed to stand at room temperature for minutes:

water 50% by volume n-propanol 47% by volume 86% formic acid 392 by volume pH 2.5

EXAMPLE 7 By the same treatment as described in Example 1 was employed, except that the impregnating solution composition was as follows:

water 50% by volume iso-propanol 49.9% by volume 28% ammonia 0.1% by volume pH 10.5

There were obtained 10 crimps/4 cm fiber, the crimped top was treated with boiled water for 10 minutes, and there were obtained 8 crimps/4 cm fiber.

EXAMPLE 8 By the same treatment as described in Example 1 was employed, except that the impregnating solution composition was as follows:

water iso-propanol thioglycollic acid 50% by volume 47% by volume 3% by volume There were obtained 8 crimps/4 cm fiber. The crimped top was treated with boiled water for 30 minutes and there were obtained 8 crimps/4 cm fiber.

EXAMPLE 9 By the same treatment as described in Example 1 was employed, except that the impregnating solution composition was as follows:

water iso-propanol 28% ammonia thiourea dioxide There were obtainedwhiter and brighter wool composed of 10 crimps/4 cm fiber. The crimped top was treated with boiled water for 30 minutes and there were obtained 10 crimps/4 cm fiber.

As hereinbefore set forth, the number of squeeze rolls in a drier or roll padder of the invention need not be six in number and referring to FIG. 7 of the drawing a four squeeze roll device is generally illustrated at 300. The squeeze roll device includes a first squeeze roll set comprising rolls 302a and 302b and a second squeeze roll set 304a and 304b. One of the squeeze rolls is driven by suitable drive means not shown. It will be noted from the directional arrows on the rolls that when designating rolls 302a and b as the output rolls the input for the fibers or the fabrics must be either be tween rolls 302a and 304a or as illustrated between rolls 30212 and 304b.

As in the prior form of the invention, a first mesh band 316 is directed about a small roll 306, about the external surface of roll 302a, about the internal or external surface of roll 304a, about the external surface of roll 304b, about a small roll 308, thence between the nip of rolls 302b and 304b and about a small roll 310 located within the wetting or drying chamber generally designated 312. A second mesh band 318 is directed about a small roll 314 thence about the external surface of roll 302b, between the nip of rolls 302b and 304b and about roll 310.

The roll assembly illustrated in FIG. 7 may also include a press plate at each end of the roll assembly designated 320 and/or suitable side elements such as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings and support means for the shafts of the plural rolls of the assembly with the support means being adjustable as illustrated in'FlG. 3 of the drawing.

From the foregoing description of various forms of dehydrating and wetting apparatus and apparatus for crimping protein fibers it will be seen that the objects and advantages hereinbefore set forth are fully accomplished. Further, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the form of the apparatus without departing from the scope of the present invention. I

We claim:

1. Apparatus for crimping protein fibers comprising in combination:

means for impregnating said fibers with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol;

means for storing said impregnated fibers to allow penetration of said solution;

means for drafting said fibers; and

means for setting and drying said fibers; said appara tus further comprising a setting chamber and a dry- 15 16 ing chamber each provided with means for forsaid fibers, each pair of belts being adapted to be warding said fibers; and urged together to maintain said drafting forces on said setting chamber and said drying chamber are said fibers.

each provided with a pair of belts for forwarding 

1. Apparatus for crimping prOtein fibers comprising in combination: means for impregnating said fibers with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol; means for storing said impregnated fibers to allow penetration of said solution; means for drafting said fibers; and means for setting and drying said fibers; said apparatus further comprising a setting chamber and a drying chamber each provided with means for forwarding said fibers; and said setting chamber and said drying chamber are each provided with a pair of belts for forwarding said fibers, each pair of belts being adapted to be urged together to maintain said drafting forces on said fibers. 